Friday, March 23, 2007

Damn Those Hollywood Jew Moguls

Iranian prexy Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has joined the uproar over Warner Bros' "300.(*)"

In a televised speech marking the Iranian New Year on Wednesday, the hardliner accused Western powers of "trying to tamper with history by making a film and by making Iran's image look savage."

Although he didn't mention "300" by name, Ahmadinejad's attack comes in the wake of widespread Iranian anger at the film, which re-creates the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, in which 300 Spartan soldiers fought a Persian army numbering in the thousands.

"By psychological war, propaganda and misuse of the organizations they have themselves created, and for which they have written the rules, and over which they have the monopoly, they are trying to prevent our nation's development," Ahmadinejad added.

Last week, the president's cultural adviser, Javad Shangari, accused the film of being "part of a comprehensive U.S. psychological warfare aimed against Iranian culture."

(*)Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. The film brings Miller's (Sin City) acclaimed graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale.

Late on the second day of battle, as the Persian king was pondering what to do next, he received a windfall: a Malian Greek traitor named Ephialtes informed him of a path around Thermopylae and offered to guide the Persian army through the pass. Ephialtes was motivated by the desire of a reward. For this act, the name of Ephialtes received a lasting stigma: it means "nightmare" and is synonymous with "traitor" in Greek

About Me

American born, my wife and I moved to Israel in 1970. We have lived at Shiloh together with our family since 1981. I was in the Betar youth movement in the US and UK. I have worked as a political aide to Members of Knesset and a Minister during 1981-1994, lectured at the Academy for National Studies 1977-1994, was director of Israel's Media Watch 1995-2000 and currently, I work at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. I was a guest media columnist on media affairs for The Jerusalem Post, op-ed contributor to various journals and for six years had a weekly media show on Arutz 7 radio. I serve as an unofficial spokesperson for the Jewish Communities in Judea & Samaria.